Copyright © 2004 Craig Rowe

Last updated: 15 April 2004

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Introduction   Zone Defence   Man Defence   Splitline Defence   Half Court Defence

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Introduction

A player's good grounding in individual defensive concepts is paramount to running a successful structured team defence. Zone defence within the younger age groups should be used sparingly. Playing and teaching man defence helps improve a players ability to contribute successfully to team defence (including zones). A solid man defence is more effective than zones in most cases within the game. Below may offer some idea on when best to choose a zone or man defence.

Zone Defence

bullet Use to reduce drives resulting in a score
bullet Use to force outside shots
bullet Use to slow down teams that break or run a lot
bullet Use to hide slower defensive players in the middle  (i.e. players lacking the speed of their opponent)
bullet Use to rest your team after playing tough man defence
bullet Use to eliminate uncertainty which may occur when playing a man (i.e. defending screens)
bullet Use to change tactics, use after a score or free throw, to give your defence a different look
bullet Use against teams not used to playing against a zone or who do not set up zones themselves
bullet Use against teams that struggle to play against strong zone defence
bullet Change your zone alignments according to the strengths and weaknesses of your players
bullet Zone all inbound plays
bullet The weakness of zoning baseline inbounds is the offence flashing from behind the zone
bullet Teach your players the strengths and weaknesses of each alignment and capitalise on both D & O
bullet Avoid playing zone defence for longer than is necessary to achieve the team's objective
bullet Zones can teach players to be lazy on defence - a good zone should be as tough as a man defence
bullet Communication is important have players call from behind, cutters, screens etc...

You will notice from the list above that a zone tends to be used most when man defence is being broken down by the opposing team. Often it has been observed that the need to play a zone tends to demonstrate a defensive team lacks the ability to playing a successful man defence.

Man Defence

bullet Use to improve your players speed and endurance
bullet Use to apply tough pressure on individuals
bullet Use to exploit weak individual opponents
bullet Use when players are matched up evenly
bullet Use to better play the passing lanes and take risks
bullet Use to reduce player penetration (i.e. cutters)
bullet Use to reduce penetrating passes
bullet Use to make sure players always see their man and the ball
bullet Use to Help & Recover with your slower defenders or offensive team
bullet Use to Help & Rotate with you quicker/smarter defenders or defensive team
bullet Use to eliminate uncertainty which may occur when playing zones (i.e. player responsibility)
bullet Man defence is hard work, know your best defensive players and rest them according to tactics and endurance
bullet Some coaches teach defenders to force players to help areas if you do this make sure all players understand their role within the defence and can play it appropriately
bullet Coach Rowe teaches to Force the ball to the sidelines and baselines, use them as the help (i.e. lines are extra defenders, that can't be beaten)
bullet Teach players to know what the offence wants and not to give it to them
bullet Communication is paramount, 'bigs' should talk from behind, always have someone home on the splitline
bullet Teach your players to beat their opponent to the spot where they want to go

Splitline Defence

The following illustrates Coach R's rules and approach to teaching half court man splitline defence. For a team on the floor that tends to struggle with team defensive structure the coach suggests a help and recover splitline defence. However if your team is more capable the Coach suggests to adopt a help and rotate philosophy. Rotation allows the team to double down on the post and baseline penetration to reduce high percentage shots, while still maintaining a player at home to cover weakside cutters. Coach Rowe breaks his defence down into some simple rules. By simplifying the game, decision making is reduced and players are given only a few things to do, but are expected to them very well. Coach Rowe believes you should share your team concepts with other coaches and team because it promotes better competition. He says, "It doesn't matter what defence or offence a team utilises, what matters is how well they do it!"

Rule 1 - On the Ball
bullet When guarding the ball force your player away from the middle and to the side, preventing dribble penetration to the middle should be your priority when on the ball.

Communication

bullet "Ball, Ball, Ball" - when on the ball
bullet "Dead, Dead, Dead" - when opponent picks up dribble
bullet "Shot" - When players shoots the ball
Rule 2 - One Pass Away
bullet When guarding a player one pass away from the ball, you should be one step off your player and one step towards the ball when the ball is alive. When the ball becomes dead you should be in total denial of the passing lane and in contact with your player. If your player cuts, maintain a denial stance through-out the player's cut.

Communication

bullet

"1 Left" or 1" Right" - your player's relationship with the ball
Rule 3 - Two Passes Away
bullet When two passes away you may open to the ball and should be on the help line (i.e. keyway or backboard edge). Your job is to provide help to stop dribble penetration to the middle, by hedging towards the dribble and recovering.
bullet This is when you will most likely "Take 2" when the team rotates to stop baseline dribble penetration or when the team doubles down on the low post. {Rotation Rules 7 & 8 Also}
Rule 4 - Three and Four Passes Away
bullet When three passes away open to the ball, you should be on the splitline (i.e. imaginary line from basket to basket). Your job is to help stop dribble penetration to the middle and to trap the baseline drive or double the low post.
bullet A player four passes away does not have to rotate to stop the baseline drive or low post feed in this splitline defence.

Communication

bullet "Home" - For both three and four passes away (also call all screens).
"Rotation" Rule 5 - On The Ball
bullet You must ensure your man does not dribble penetrate to the middle. Keep them going sideline/baseline, channel or force them to the trapping areas {See Trap Diagram).

Communication

bullet "Ball, Ball, Ball"; "Dead, Dead, Dead"; "Shot".
bullet "Trap" - to communicate to a teammate to trap in the trapping areas.
"Rotation" Rule 6 - One Pass Away
bullet As per our normal splitline rule on baseline penetration. However when the ball is fed to the low post, you should "hedge" the post to encourage the pass back out to the wing.
bullet Keep vision on your player and don't commit to trap.
bullet Don't hedge the high post or you risk being back-doored by your opponent.

Communication

bullet "One Right" or "One Left"
"Rotation" Rule 7 - Two Passes Away
bullet When the ball is passed to the post or there is baseline dribble penetration the player two passes away is responsible for "Taking 2" opponents on the rotation. This is done by rotating down to the splitline to cover your own player and the player of the teammate who is three passes away.
bullet If the ball is passed out of the trap to one of the players you are guarding when "Taking Two", close out to the player with the ball.
"Rotation" Rule 8 - Three and Four Passes Away
bullet When three passes away you are responsible for covering all baseline drives and doubling down when the ball is fed to the low post.
bullet You must recover to the open man once the ball is passed out of the trap, communicate the trap by saying "Trap".
bullet When four passes away you are not required to rotate on the baseline penetration or to stop the low post, you are responsible for holding the home position, always seeing your weakside opponent. communicate that you are "Home".

Half Court Defence

To remove more decision making in the help and rotate half court splitline defence, below are areas where you should look to trap, double down or deny. Remember in both half court and full court defence you should use the sidelines, baselines and half-way line as though they are extra defenders (i.e. you don't have five defenders on the court you have 9, utilise them!)

Total Denial - you must not allow the ball in the lane.

Denial - you do not want the offence to set up inside the 3 point line, but you can still tolerate non-penetrating passes to be received in this area if your denial breaks down.

Double Down - on anything in the low post area.

Trap - anything in the corners over the half court and in the baseline/sideline corners trap also all baseline dribble penetration.

Home - you must have a person home at all times, defending the keyway and basket.

Screens - Communicate all screens, call from behind (i.e. "screen left ?", "screen right" etc...) Fight over screens to avoid mismatches.